Murphysboro Fire Chief Steve McBride says the fire department responds to at least two chimney fires a year. • Have your chimney cleaned and inspected at least once a year. A blazing fireplace is an ideal solution to that problem. Green wood burns much cooler than seasoned wood, and as a result the smoke is more likely to condense on the inside of the chimney and cause creosote buildup. You love your home and take good care of it. Keep reading to understand what causes chimney fires and the six best steps you can take for preventing them. So stay on top of your chimney’s servicing needs to keep your home safe and avoid costly repairs. If you’re just starting, look for wood that is already seasoned. This highly... 2. This highly flammable, dark brown substance coats chimney walls when by-products of a fire (smoke, vapor, and unburned wood) condense as they move from the hot fireplace or wood stove into the cooler chimney. Chimney fires cause property damage and put lives at risk every year. A small fire that burns well does not produce as much creosote as a large fire that … The heat can transfer through the fireplace to the surrounding, non-fireproof parts of your home. Clean chimneys don’t catch fire. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a trusted, honest insurance agent. It is much more straightforward to repair cracks in mortar joints or masonry than to replace a warped flue. First, a chimney liner could be necessary in helping a chimney pass inspection. After the firebox cools (for a minimum of three hours, but preferably eight), shovel the ashes into a metal container. Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home. There are only two ways to prevent chimney fires: take away the fuel and take away the match. The high water content also makes for a thicker, stickier smoke compound. Fireplace safety: Keep a glass or metal screen in front of fireplace to prevent embers or sparks jumping out. Low-temperature, slow-burning fires, particularly those left to smolder overnight, produce more smoke and leave behind more unburned combustible material. According to the National Fire Protection Association, around 25 percent of all home-heating fires are caused by creosote buildup in chimneys – a serious statistic if you use wood to produce heat on a regular basis. Learn how to prevent chimney fires below. Your chimney won’t catch fire if it’s clean. A chimney cap on the crown around the outside opening of the flue will keep debris and critters out. According to the annual report produced by the Department for Communities & Local Government, there were 7,700 chimney fires … Getting chimney liners installed is important for several reasons. If you’re using it daily, like a wood … Consider keeping a chimney fire extinguishing product on hand. Contact Lake Region Insurance Agency today for a free insurance review and policy quote. , can create a more massive fire than your structure can contain. In the most severe cases, chimney fires can destroy houses and put lives at risk. What Does a Personal Liability Umbrella Policy Cover? Overfilling your firebox, known as over-firing, can create a more massive fire than your structure can contain. If your home contains a chimney and/or a fireplace, remember to inspect and maintain it regularly. are products that work by quickly reducing the available oxygen in the flue to starve the fire. Leaves and animal nests inside a flue can quickly fuel a chimney fire when touched by loose embers from a fire. It will also … He says chimneys should be inspected each year by a … It is a layer of protection between the chimney walls and the fire. The hot air rising through the chimney flue creates a draft, which is like a vacuum that draws the smoke up the chimney. “Sometimes, people don't do the maintenance of keeping their fireplace clean, especially the flue,” said Jerry Craddock. Caps also prevent acidic rainwater from entering and corroding the chimney. When chimney fires occur in masonry chimneys - whether the flues are an older, unlined type or are tile lined to meet current safety codes - the high temperatures at which they burn (around 2000' F) can "melt" mortar, crack tiles, cause liners to collapse and damage the outer masonry material. The best way to burn a clean fire is to use the top-down burn method: Place the large logs vertically at the bottom of the fireplace or wood stove (with the bottoms of the logs facing you), add four to five horizontal layers of kindling, then top with tinder and light. Check for any soot buildup and remove it, clean the interior of your fire place, inspect the chimney and its cap, and consider using fire screens to help keep any lit fires inside your fireplace. This substance can coat the glass on your fireplace and stick to your chimney flue’s walls. Hire a chimney sweep to perform this maintenance service so you know it’s done safely and correctly. They’ll check the flue walls and identify and address any potential problems. today for a free insurance review and policy quote. A weaker one will deposit soot and creosote on your chimney’s walls. To avoid a disaster in your house, keep the following tips in mind. But it’s easy to avoid chimney fires and costly repairs by: Burning seasoned wood only. As a result, this causes a fire to break out inside your chimney. If when you scratch a finger against a chimney wall and uncover one-eighth of an inch of build-up, it’s time for a cleaning. Great people, very patient and quick ti get to you if they are busy! Fill the metal container with water and store it outside the home away from other flammable materials until you’re ready to discard them. You want the maximum draft to pull airborne particles up and out of your house. Schedule an annual chimney inspection.. Because many defects that lead to chimney fires, such as a cracked flue... 3. Use the proper ladders when it is required to access the roof. ...they find what policy you need and are very pleasant while doing so. Contact. Visit us in Cokato, Willmar, or New London, MN, to get a quote today. Chimfex and Fire-Ex are products that work by quickly reducing the available oxygen in the flue to starve the fire. The fact is that clean chimneys simply don’t catch fire. They’ll check the flue walls and identify and address any potential problems. Consider keeping a chimney fire extinguishing product on hand. The good news is chimney fires can be prevented. If you think you had or have a chimney fire, even a small one, always call 911. Thick, dense smoke may push down the chimney and into the house. To minimize creosote build-up, only burn seasoned hardwood that has dried for at least six months and contains a moisture content of no more than 20 percent, which you can easily test with a wood moisture meter (available online and at hardware stores for $30 and up, like this General Tools option on Amazon). Then douse the cooled wood and embers with enough baking soda to cover them completely—the sodium bicarbonate will extinguish any remaining embers. You’ll hear a sound like a large bonfire coming from the chimney. You will see flames and burning pieces of creosote erupting from the top of the chimney. You love your home and take good care of it. Sweeping chimneys can help to avoid very serious problems like chimney fires. Accidents happen even with chimney safety protocols in place. Not burning trash in a fireplace or woodstove. Make sure a professional chimney sweep inspects your solid fuel venting system annually, and sweeps and repairs it whenever needed. Make sure to open the damper when you light a fire. A firefighter can make sure your home is safe. Have your chimney serviced by a certified chimney sweep once a year. A strong draft will carry the airborne debris to the outside. Split the wood to speed the drying process, and stack it off the ground in a single row to increase airflow. They occur when the creosote is hot enough to burn, but there isn’t enough to cause a big blaze. However, budget-conscious DIYers willing to get up on a ladder can also clean their chimney without professional help by using a wide chimney brush. Accidents happen even with chimney safety protocols in place. But did you know that over 40% of house fires in Ireland are caused by a chimney catching fire? By the time you need it next year, your wood will be ready. The damper is a metal plate in the chimney that controls the air supply to your fireplace. If the temperature in the chimney flue (the space inside the chimney) is high enough, and the creosote build-up thick enough, creosote can catch fire—and that fire can spread and move up the flue. Unseasoned, or green, wood is the main cause of creosote buildup, so the easiest way to reduce the chances of a chimney fire is to use well-cured wood. The biggest thing that you can do to prevent chimney fires is to have your chimney inspected by a professional every year and cleaned as needed. What Should I Do If I Have a Chimney Fire? So it’s essential to be sure you have adequate coverage. Have Your Chimney Inspected Annually – Annual chimney inspection can prevent chimney fires. A chimney fire occurs about 22,000 times a year in the United States, so homeowners need to monitor this. There are three levels of chimney inspections: Consult your chimney sweep company about which inspection level is recommended for your chimney and venting system. Do not burn paper in your fireplace. Level 3 ($1,000 to $5,000) includes Level 1 and Level 2 inspection. Having your fireplace and chimney cleaned once each year will help to eliminate fire hazards due to creosote and other materials, like pine needles, leaves, and animal nests. RELATED: 14 Bad Habits That Could Burn Your House Down. If you think you had or have a chimney fire, even a small one, always call 911. The main culprit of chimney fires is creosote. It closes off the fireplace when you don’t have a fire going, and swings up to open the flue when needed. Manasa Reddigari, Bob Vila, 14 Bad Habits That Could Burn Your House Down, clean their chimney without professional help, 15 Handy Things You Can Do With Ashes from Your Fireplace, 10 Things You Never Thought to Keep in Your Car, 10 Things Never to Plug into a Power Strip. Inspections and cleaning by your local chimney sweep can make sure creosote is not actively building up, limiting the release of smoke and other gases. Season your firewood by stacking it outside and letting it sit for at least six months. Dirty chimneys can cause chimney fires, which damage or destroy homes and injure people. Chimfex puts chimney fires in as little as 22 seconds. One will deposit soot and creosote can catch fire chimney cleaned and inspected at how to avoid chimney fires a... Burn your house a fire-safe container such as a metal container blanket over the.... Happen for one simple reason: improper usage and care of it simply don ’ t to! 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